Thursday, May 25, 2006

Cherie Blair wrong, Alastair Campbell right?

This morning started out so well. My copy of The Little Red Book arrived last night so I cheerfully read it on the way to the bus. I picked up my Telegraph from the shop got on the bus and began to indulge myself in the news of the day at which point anger set it.

Happily the Cherie Blair/Hutton Report story was getting coverage. The Telegraph mentioned that Alastair Campbell's partner Fiona Millar had been on Sky News and called for Cherie Blair to apologise as well. She had conceded that it was not an approriate thing to do and that "the right thing to do is to apologise"

Now correct me if I'm wrong here but wasn't her boyfriend at the auction and didn't he autograph the fucking thing too? Is she saying that is appropriate?

In the book trade, I understand, it is perfectly acceptable for the author of a piece of fiction to sign a copy of his work for a fan. It is, however, unforgivable for someone else to do so; hinting as it does at plagarism or even fraud.

If one does interpret Miss Millar's comments in this fashion one can understand precisely why she does not call on her paramour to issue an apology; she believes him to be the injured party.